Friday happenings

Today has been a sorta lazy day for me.  I did get a black beans recipe in the crockpot earlier in the day and then I made rice to serve with it.  Hubby and I liked it.  It was a little bit spicy but not too much.  I think it will be a keeper.  It is freezable as well.  I'll post the recipe at the end of this post.

Daughter had lunch with her Grandmama and Aunt Pat today at their favorite BBQ restaurant.  She wasn't hungry when dinner was made.  So she passed.  Maybe she'll try the recipe later.

Climbing Mount Laundry a little today and running the dishwasher is about all that got done around the house.  We plan on taking some things to our storage unit tomorrow or after church sometime on Sunday..

Our daughter's bedroom is nearly finished.  Really just needs a good deep cleaning.  She has new curtains (room darkening), and new comforter set and sheets and bed ruffle.  It is gorgeous.  Black and white comforter and shams and hot pink polka dot bed sheets.  She has a new decorative pillow to add to her already generous amount of pillows. She got a new hot pink bar stool height chair for sitting in front of her dresser/vanity area and a 10 drawer cart to hold all of her beauty items.  Oh, and a new floor lamp with different pinkish/purplish shades to help with the lighting in her dresser/vanity area.    It's very girly :)

Also, daughter's bathroom is no longer a Hello Kitty bathroom but is a Paris themed bathroom.  It is gorgeous.  I'll see if I can get some photos up of both of these rooms soon.  They look so pretty.

I need to give my bedroom and bath a deep cleaning.  I've purchased new towels and rugs for my bath and hot pink and lime green closet organizers for my closet.  I am hoping to get some help with the painting once I decide on which shade I want my bedroom and bath to be.  Decisions, decisions...

Next, the craft room and guest room need some much needed love.  I'll keep you updated on those projects.

Thanks for stopping by my Chaos Cottage.  Please come by again and leave a comment so I know you stopped by.  Look for the recipe below.

Pam

Black Beans

1 pound smoked sausage cut into pieces--I used turkey sausage

3 cans (15-oz.) black beans, drained

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 1/2 cups chopped green bell pepper

1 1/2 cups chopped celery

2 tsp. minced garlic (4 cloves)

2 tsp. dried thyme leaves

1/4 tsp. cayenne

1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves

1 1/2 tsp. pepper

1 chicken bouillon cube

5 bay leaves

1 (8-oz.) can tomato sauce

1 cup water

Rice (enough to serve 8)

Combine all ingredients, except rice in a crockpot.

Cook on low for 8 hours.

Remove bay leaves. Either serve HOT or cool and FREEZE.

When preparing to serve, heat to boiling and simmer 15 minutes.

Menu for week of August 27th

Monday:  Pork Chops, Brussels Sprouts, Rice with Veggies

Tuesday:  Black Beans with Smoked Sausage, Salad

Wednesday:  Parmesan Garlic Chicken (extra for freezer), Zucchini Casserole (a long time favorite)

Thursday:  Quiche, Fruit Salad

Friday:  Cheesy Chicken Bundles (extra for freezer), Corn Cobbettes, Broccoli Salad

Saturday:  Out

Sunday:  Chicken Stuffing Casserole, Green Bean Bundles, Baby Carrots

Thank you for stopping by.  Go to http://orgjunkie.com/  to see 100's of menu plans this week.

Pam

A little update.

I know I haven't been posting much.  Seems like my days are so busy with schooling my daughter and chores, and an occasional nap, that I don't take time to tend to my blog as much as I should or want to.  I do well to get my weekly menu on here.  It is more a reminder for me than anything.  I have some ideas I'd like to blog about in the future if I could just get around to it :/

I am still dealing with insomnia.  I have a hard time falling asleep.  I use Melatonin on most nights and it usually helps me nod off but I find myself waking up two to three hours later and I go downstairs for a few more hours and then feel sleepy enough to get back into bed.  Then I wake up later in the morning than I would like and that seems to throw my whole schedule/plan for the day off.  Seems like I just get through school with my daughter and then it is time to fix dinner and then it is dinner clean-up, some family time, and then time to prepare for bed and then the whole thing starts all over again.  I do well to keep groceries in the house and the laundry done.  Those are both important and I am normally able to keep those up.  Unfortunately, my housework and projects have fallen to the wayside. 

So, I am going to make myself work a certain amount of time a day on my household chores and projects, even if it is only 15 to 30 minutes a day, because it will add up, and I will see progress.  Slow and steady...

Tomorrow (actually today, as it is 3:55 a.m. EST) I am going to do laundry while schooling and then my plan is to give the kitchen a good going over.  Then I am going to get my daughter's help in picking up the house and helping me do the vacuuming.  She is very good at vacuuming the stairs!  Then it will be time to begin dinner prep, but I figure it is a good start and then Friday we will plan on no school and giving the house much more needed attention, especially her bedroom and bathroom as she has a friend coming over to stay the night.  Nothing like company coming to get your house clean!  LOL

So, I think I'll head back upstairs and see if I can go to the land of Nod once again.  Funny thing is that my hubby will be getting up in 30 minutes to get ready to leave for work.  We're like two ships passing in the night! 

Pam

Menu for week of August 20th

Okay, folks.  I've been in a slump, blog-wise.  I'm doing good to just get my menu posted.  And then, I don't always fix what I've planned.  I know we all do that from time to time, but geesh, lately it seems I'm always in the mood for something else.  Oh well.  Here is my PLAN for this week:

Monday:  Grilled Chicken Tenders, Broiled Asparagus, Salad

Tuesday:  Wild Rice and Chicken Soup (hubby loves this ), Fruit

Wednesday:  Going to my Mom's for her birthday and taking Chinese Take-out

Thursday:  Grilled Turkey Sausage with Peppers and Onions, Baked Beans

Friday:  Probably Pizza (daughter is have a friend over for a sleep over and this is what they usually want)

Saturday:  Grilled Chicken, Sauteed Squash and Sweet Onions, Corn on the Cob

Sunday:  Pork Chops, Brussels Sprouts, maybe some Mashed Red Potatoes

That's my week.  How about you?  Go to http://orgjunkie.com/blog to see 100's of plans.

Thanks for visiting Chaos Cottage!

Menu for week of August 13th

Monday:  We had sammies from Subway! 

Tuesday:  BBQ Chicken Kebabs, Baked Beans, Pineapple

Wednesday:  Ziti Chicken Casserole, Salad

Thursday:  Weight Watchers Taco Soup, Whole Wheat Cheese Quesas, Cantaloupe

Friday:  Grilled Chicken, Brown Rice, Salad

Saturday:  Lovely Leftovers or dinner out

Sunday:  Pork Chops in the Crock Pot, Green Veggies, Brown Rice

That's my plan and I'm sticking to it!  Visit  http://orgjunkie.com/ for more menu plans.

Pam

Menu for the week of August 6th

I have been having problems with my back and haven't been sticking to my menu.  So if you see repeats you know why :/

Here is my plan for this week:

Monday:  Dinner out at new restaurant in town.

Tuesday:  Salsa Chicken, Corn on the Cob, Steamed Broccoli

Wednesday:  Ham and Cheese Quiche and Fruit Salad

Thursday:  Chicken and Stuffing Casserole, Green Bean Bundles

Friday:  Lovely Leftovers

Saturday:  BBQ Chicken Kabobs, Baked Beans, Pineapple

Sunday:  Grilled Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Salad

Go to http://orgjunkie.com/ for 100's of menu plans.

Have a terrific week!

Pam

August ???

Happy August 1st

August already.  Wowzers!   I have so much more I wanted to do before I start homeschooling again on Monday.  Time has really flown by this summer.

This is a picture taken in the spring at Dollywood.  We will be going back many more times when the temps drop.

Just saying hi.

Pam